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Cube & Cube 2 FORUM

3 regen capture issues to chew on

by SATAN!!@# on 01/22/2008 04:00, 69 messages, last message: 04/08/2008 14:51, 28091 views, last view: 05/19/2024 00:01

A recent addition to Sauer, I've totally fallen in love with regen capture. My god, what a rockin great time it is to play that gametype!

Over the past month or so of playing, I've noticed 3 general issues that could be usefull to look at and think about addressing, to further polish the regen experience in Sauer. I notice that when a regen game is going on, that server is very often the most packed on the list. This makes me think it could be worth taking a peek at some of these ideas, make a popular aspect of Sauer shine:

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1. Flag cap radius can be "gamed" through walls.

Problem: On many (most perhaps) maps, there are a few flags whose capture radius reaches out beyond the boundaries of the room or area they are in. This results in players being able to capture or harass through walls, in ways that the map maker probably didnt intend.

My initial thought was that perhaps capture volums could be configurable by the map maker, either using different radius, or maybe something else entirely like a material volume. I realize, tho, that in the end, it works out best if the area is consistent, which means a radius around a point ends up being the best, straightforward solution.

Solution: For this issue, the work ends up being on the shoulders of the mapmakers, I think. If we assume that a consistent volume is best, then in the end flags just can't be placed in such a way that this volume reaches to unintended areas. It could be useful to maybe consider a revisiting of maps who have this problem.

However, a useful addition for mapmakers would be to show the radius of the capture area in the editor, perhaps using the same system that is used for lights. This way, map makers can clearly see if their flag fits an area.

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2. Some flags are placed near "thin" walls that results in players near the flag taking damage from explosions.

Problem: A number of maps have problem flags that are next to thin walls. Alamo, I think the map is called, is a good example of this. There is a flag right next to a wall, whose opposite face is perfectly situated to be hit by rockets from another nearby flag. A number of maps have some problem flags like this.

Solution: while it would be neat to see damage radius take geometry into account, my spidey sense says this might not happen. SO, it seems like the only real option here is for map makers to take this into account. Perhaps again here existing maps that show this problem could be given a cleanup pass on this front?

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3. The randomness of flag/weapon placement on some maps can result in imbalance at times.

Problem: The map face-capture is a great (and perhaps the best) example of this problem. Occasionally you will get a case where one side has rockets, and the other doesn't (I once played where one side had no rl, and the other had one up top, and another in back. Uffda!). When this happens, it can make for a slog, and doesn't make Sauer shine.

Solution: This is a toughie for me - I don't really understand how the semi-randomness works (on some maps, like face-capture, the weapons seem fully random. On others, like serenity, they seem rock-solid consistent). Perhaps map makers could be given tools to narrow down the randomness? Or, perhaps different modes of weapon selection could be present, such as "fully random" for non-mirrored maps, "mirrored random" for mirror maps, or somet hybrid?

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#1: ..

by SanHolo on 01/22/2008 09:02

Issue 1 and 2 have been a problem even in earlier versions.

You can capture a flag through walls, e.g. in face-capture, you can stand on the ledge outside the "room" in the tower and capture the flag. In fb-capture you can stand behind the lower building to capture the lower flag. And in that same map, when someone is capturing the flag on the platform (the one you reach through the teleporter), your enemies can simply shoot rockets at the platform from below and you'll die.

I think that generally, walls should stop the damage _and_ prevent captures.